Introduction

The bog turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii , is the smallest of the
four species of the genus Clemmys and one of the rarest. They
are characterized by their small size (maximum shell length of 4.25
inches) and the large patches of yellow or orange on both sides of the
head. Omnivores, they generally feed on berries and insects, which are
ample in their preferred habitat, wetlands that are spring-fed with
saturated soils and small amounts of running water.

Also known as the Muhelenburg turtle, after Reverend Heinreich
Muhelnberg who discovered them, the bog turtle’s life span is estimated
to be in excess of 40 years, reaching their sexual maturity at 6-8
years old. This cold-blooded creature hibernates for six months from
mid-autumn to early spring and becomes active in late April
to early June.

These reptiles are scattered throughout the Atlantic seaboard from
southwest Massachusetts to southwest North Carolina and are protected
almost in every state they occupy. Presently, the bog turtle is on the
Federal Endangered Species List and is listed as "Threatened" for the
northern population (CT, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, and PA) and "Threatened
due to similarity of appearance" for the southern population
(GA, NC, SC, TN, and VA). These turtles are threatened due to several
reasons including predators (raccoons, skunks, dogs, foxes, etc), the
urbanization of their natural habitats, and for use in the pet trade.